T-Mobile Kills The Last Sidekicks

Maybe buying a company called "Danger" wasn't the brightest idea. Microsoft received the second half of a one-two blow yesterday when T-Mobile killed the Sidekick LX and Sidekick 2008, the last handsets built on Microsoft's Danger software that predated the Kin.

Maybe buying a company called "Danger" wasn't the brightest idea. Microsoft received the second half of a one-two blow yesterday when T-Mobile killed the Sidekick LX and Sidekick 2008, the last handsets built on Microsoft's Danger software.

The death of the Sidekick comes just after Microsoft announced they had killed the KIN, which is the phone Microsoft created in part using Danger's staff and software after they acquired the company. The KIN technology and team are now part of the Windows Phone 7 group, Microsoft said.

T-Mobile owns the Sidekick brand, so they can slap that name onto any phone they want. For their part, here's what they have to say:

"As T-Mobile looks to further innovate and raise the bar for the next generation of the T-Mobile Sidekick, as of July 2, the Sidekick LX and Sidekick 2008 will no longer be available through T-Mobile, including retail stores, care, telesales and online. While we work on the next chapter of our storied Sidekick franchise, T-Mobile will continue to provide our loyal Sidekick customers with product service and support. Stay tuned for exciting updates in the months ahead, which we expect will provide customers with a new and fresh experience."

Notice that T-Mobile is promising a "new and fresh experience." This may imply that future Sidekicks will be designed by a different company, or run a different operating system. What would you want to see in a new Sidekick? Tell us in the comments.

PCMag.com's lead mobile analyst, Sascha Segan, has reviewed hundreds of smartphones, tablets and other gadgets in more than 9 years with PCMag. He's the head of our Fastest Mobile Networks project, one of the hosts of the daily PCMag Live Web show and speaks frequently in mass media on cell-phone-related issues. His commentary has appeared on ABC, the BBC, the CBC, CNBC, CNN, Fox News, and in newspapers from San Antonio, Texas to Edmonton, Alberta.
Segan is also a multiple award-winning travel writer, having contributed...
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